I am sure others here are more qualified to answer this but my reasons are to enable the wheel to roll over obsticles better off pavement and a wider tyre choice for off pavement too.

Yes it probabilly will slow the steering down but the V is so quick anyway. I am planing to run 17" for pavement and 19" off pavement.

Hope this helps.

Actually, I plan on riding on pavement only, but don't like the stock sport bike tires the Versys comes with. What would it cost me to have 19" wheels put on front & back? I can put 19" [road] tires on front & back, right? I like the look, feel & ride of a trail/Enduro type [tall, thin tires] bike much, much better than that of a sport bike. The roads I ride are bumpy, but are still paved.

Having had Norton Commando's with pairs of 19" wheels, I used to think that 19" wheels would theoretically handle better (and they might for off-road.) But with radial tires, the dual supermoto 17" mag wheels, it handles the best I've ever felt. This whole bike is a gem of gems. Add-on parts are too high, but you can't have everything when you want it. But on the street, this bike handles incredibly! 19" with bias ply's on the street are not going to beat 17" mag wheels with radials in any respect, imo, except in your mind maybe (and sometimes, that is good enough since you are paying for and driving it - but you might get in a wreck or two from inadequate handling from all these abs (idiot) cars slamming on brakes randomly and irregularly.)

Comparing this bike to others, it's like a BMW F650 rotax torque, like a BMW 800 twin in design, and like a BMW G650X Supermoto bike in options. For various reasons though, it's better than all 3. In short, except for safety, touring, or windshield doo-dads, you will be hard pressed to improve this bike's engine or handling performance by re-engineering it: it will be a tall order to fill and a waste of money most likely

Is this for the Versys 650? At 450lbs, you might think 110. ? You could find out what people use on other bikes of similar weight. My CRF works fine with a 100/80x21.

Have you done a 19" wheel from the DL? There are plenty of off-road bias tires available in 120/70x17 since this thread was started that would keep the quick steering, and still give you some bite in the soft stuff.

Gonna order some Woodys wheels in Jan.
Just got my Hiedenau tires. Still thinking
Of returning the 110 for a 100.
Rims will be 2.5" and 4.25"

Back when I was racing enduros, the 'common knowledge' was that you would run a 3.00 x 21 (front) for steering precision, or a 3.25 x 21 IF riding lots of sand, for "flotation".

I followed up with my cousin and he agrees.
He thought tracking would've better with a 100.

I think I'm installing a 100 based on the terrain I'm going to be riding.

My cousin was the tech in our city that worked on Ewan McGregors bike when he was touring around the world for that television show.
He's also an ex super bike nation champ. Very knowledgeable guy.....,

Having had Norton Commando's with pairs of 19" wheels, I used to think that 19" wheels would theoretically handle better (and they might for off-road.) But with radial tires, the dual supermoto 17" mag wheels, it handles the best I've ever felt. This whole bike is a gem of gems. Add-on parts are too high, but you can't have everything when you want it. But on the street, this bike handles incredibly! 19" with bias ply's on the street are not going to beat 17" mag wheels with radials in any respect, imo, except in your mind maybe (and sometimes, that is good enough since you are paying for and driving it - but you might get in a wreck or two from inadequate handling from all these abs (idiot) cars slamming on brakes randomly and irregularly.)

Comparing this bike to others, it's like a BMW F650 rotax torque, like a BMW 800 twin in design, and like a BMW G650X Supermoto bike in options. For various reasons though, it's better than all 3. In short, except for safety, touring, or windshield doo-dads, you will be hard pressed to improve this bike's engine or handling performance by re-engineering it: it will be a tall order to fill and a waste of money most likely

I agree that the dual radial 17's will walk a 19" on pavement. However off road its a complete different story. I have witnessed first hand what the wrong wheels do on dirt. Hell, the 19" isn't ideal. But A hell of a lot better than the 17. My KLR had the 21" on it. on some of the roads we were on, the Vstrom and varadero riders were tripoding it and I was just on my pegs sailing by!....I need another KLR.

exactly. no one is changing wheel sizes for better onroad handling, this is done for dirt. there are no offroad or d-s bikes with a 17 up front, for good reason.

In a world full of people, only some want to ride. Isn't that crazy? Seal/CRAZY/misquoted

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